Binotto is president and CEO of Contessa Premium Foods Inc., a frozen entree manufacturer bought out of bankruptcy in 2011 by a pair of private-equity firms.

He’s moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Sewickley — manufacturing remains on the West Coast — and earlier this year negotiated a licensing agreement with author and TV personality Ina Garten, known as the Barefoot Contessa, for the national rollout of her namesake line of prepared foods.

Binotto, a Canonsburg native, pioneered foil-packaged tuna at Heinz when it owned StarKist. He worked at the tuna and seafood giant through two other owners, became its CEO in 2008 and departed in November 2010. He then met with two private-equity firms — Sun Capital Partners, based in Boca Raton, Fla., and Main Street Capital Holdings LLC, based in Pittsburgh — that have teamed on deals.

“I was increasingly frustrated with the ownership at StarKist; it was run very differently than I believed it should,” Binotto said. At the time, Dongwon Enterprises, based in Seoul, South Korea, was the owner.

“When I left StarKist, I was very fortunate,” he said. “I settled in with Don Jenkins and Dennis Prado (of Main Street) and the Sun people. They said, ‘Go find something you like, and we’ll look at buying it and you can grow it.’ They told me to put a list of companies together that could make sense. (Contessa) was on it.”

Contessa employs about 220 people. Most are at the manufacturing facility in Commerce, Calif., outside Los Angeles. About 20 are at the Sewickley headquarters.

Another three to five will be hired here over the next year, though Binotto wouldn’t say for what sort of positions.

Contessa, a private company, does not disclose sales. Binotto wants to grow it “until it’s at least 60 percent to 70 percent larger than it is right now.”

The company is in its second year out of bankruptcy.

“It was bankrupt for a reason, and you’ve got to make sure the culture changes immediately, and I really believe we’ve done that,” Binotto said. “It’s more collaborative, more open, more team-oriented.”

Heading an entrepreneurial venture is different for the corporate veteran. “You don’t have a parent with an unlimited pocketbook. Cash is finite,” Binotto said. “You fund your own growth.”

Current highlight: Negotiated a licensing agreement with Ina Garten and the Barefoot Contessa brand; rolled out first product — a line of frozen entrees — in early 2013. Personal favorite is five-cheese penne

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